It’s about three hours and 45 minutes to the Big Oak Flat Information Station just inside this entrance. If you’re visiting Yosemite from San Francisco, Oakland, or the East Bay Area, the Big Oak Flat Entrance is most direct. There are five entrances to Yosemite National Park. To reach the top of Vernal Fall, continue along the Mist Trail, but note that this section of the trail is significantly steeper! To see Nevada Fall, continue hiking another mile along the increasingly steep Mist Trail. Rated as moderate, this 1.6-mile round-trip hike gains 400 feet in elevation. Sage Advice: Glacier Point is closed to cars during the winter months.įor closer views of Vernal Fall, hike the Mist Trail to the Vernal Fall footbridge. At the end of the 0.6-mile, paved Glacier Point Trail, you’ll discover panoramic views of the Yosemite Valley, including Half Dome and at least three Yosemite waterfalls - Yosemite, Vernal, and Nevada Falls. If you have limited time or interest in hiking, drive to Glacier Point. There are several options for viewing the Vernal and Nevada waterfalls. While these Yosemite Valley waterfalls don’t dry up completely in the summer months, Vernal Fall does split into multiple falls as the water flow diminishes. Like many Yosemite waterfalls, the best time to see these falls plunging hundreds of feet into the Merced River is in May. And experienced hikers seeking a strenuous route can continue to Nevada Fall. With layer after layer of sedimentary rock, Mother Nature built a “grand staircase” that allows visitors to climb 1,280 feet to Vernal Fall. In mid- to late February, the setting sun’s rays are perfectly positioned to cast a reddish glow on the upper portion of Horsetail Fall, making it appear as if the fall is on fire. Sage Advice: One of the most magical times to visit Horsetail Fall is during Firefall. You can also glimpse this Yosemite waterfall from the El Capitan picnic area east of the fall on Northside Drive. When it’s flowing, typically between December and April, it’s easy to see Horsetail Fall from Northside Drive. Tumbling more than 1,000 feet off the east side of El Capitan, Horsetail Fall swishes into the Merced River as gracefully as a thoroughbred flicks at a fly. Resembling a long appendage protruding off the backside of a rock wall, it’s easy to see how the horsetail type of fall got its name. Unfortunately, Yosemite Falls only flows part of the year, typically from November through July, peaking in May and drying out for several months in late summer and early fall.įrom plunge falls that flow without touching the cliff face (like Bridalveil Fall) to tiered varieties that stream down the side of a mountain in segments (like Yosemite Falls), waterfalls are classified into at least 10 types. Just 0.5 miles down the road, you’ll get an amazing view of the Upper Fall without having to hike the entire trail. Climbing this 1,000-foot elevation will treat you to gorgeous views of the Yosemite Valley, including Half Dome and Sentinel Rock. If the hike to the top of Yosemite Falls sounds daunting, take the trail just two miles to Columbia Rock. As you might expect from a trail that leads to the top of the park’s tallest waterfall, this strenuous hike has a 2,700-foot elevation gain, which is the equivalent of walking up a 250-story skyscraper.
For even more spectacular views of Yosemite Falls, trek the 7.2-mile, out-and-back Upper Yosemite Falls Trail that largely hugs the west side of the falls. The easiest way to view Yosemite Falls is via the relatively flat 1.2-mile Lower Yosemite Falls Trail loop.
As a result, Yosemite Falls is visible from a variety of vantage points in the Yosemite Valley. Made up of three falls - upper, middle, and lower - Yosemite Falls spans 2,425 feet, crowning it the tallest in the park (and one of the most massive waterfalls in the world). Equally famous is the park’s namesake waterfall.
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